People

Rick Barinbaum ([email protected]), LMSW, is a clinical social worker, educator, consultant,and facilitator whose work bridges care, learning and community. He teaches at the School and serves as a clinical consultant and field supervisor for social work interns within the U-M Law School's clinical program. In the summer, he serves as a senior social worker at Tamarack Camps, a Jewish overnight summer camp, where he supports staff and camper well-being and works to build a more connected and resilient community. Barinbaum grounds his work in trauma-informed, compassion-centered practice, prioritizing relationship-centered engagement across training, facilitation and consultation. His professional experience spans residential treatment, preventive services, interdisciplinary legal advocacy, integrated healthcare and management, with a sustained focus on interdisciplinary collaboration, leadership development and well-being. His work is animated by a deep commitment to nurturing human connections, shaped in part by Jewish values of repair, responsibility and community.

Karla Goldman's research focuses on the history of the American Jewish experience with special attention to the history of American Jewish communities and the evolving roles and contributions of American Jewish women. She directs the University of Michigan Jewish Communal Leadership Program, a collaborative effort between the School of Social Work and the Frankel Center for Judaic Studies.

Goldman previously taught at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati and was historian in residence at the Jewish Women’s Archive in Brookline, Massachusetts. She is the author of Beyond the Synagogue Gallery: Finding a Place for Women in American Judaism (Harvard Univeristy Press).

Kristina Riemer is the program manager of the Jewish Communal Leadership Program (JCLP) within U-M’s School of Social Work. She joined JCLP in June 2025, following two years as a student services coordinator in the College of LSA, where she supported both graduate and undergraduate students in a humanities department. She holds a BS in psychology from the University of Nebraska and a Master of Education from the University of Missouri, and brings experience teaching high school science and recruiting in the IT sector. Her varied professional background has cultivated a deep appreciation for interdisciplinary collaboration and working closely with individuals to understand their goals. Passionate about fostering student well-being and connection, she values open communication and is dedicated to helping students navigate their paths to success. Outside of work, she enjoys diving into fantasy novels, spending time with her two cats, savoring herbal tea and exploring the outdoors, especially by kayak.